What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a serious illness in which the heart doesn’t pump blood through your body as well as it should. Your heart still beats, but it pumps less nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. Because of this, heart failure can make you feel tired or weak.
What is congestive heart failure?
Heart failure can cause swelling and fluid buildup in your legs, feet, and even your lungs. Fluid buildup in your lungs is often referred to as “congestion,” which is why heart failure is sometimes called "congestive heart failure" (CHF).
What causes heart failure?
Anything that weakens the heart so it doesn’t pump blood normally can cause heart failure. Some common causes of heart failure include:
- Coronary artery disease or previous "heart attack"
- High blood pressure
- Heart valve disease or heart valve damage
- Viral infections may cause heart muscle damage
- Alcohol abuse
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
Some of the most common symptoms of heart failure are often mistaken for common signs of aging. When symptoms of heart failure first develop, they are less serious, but this does not mean that they should be ignored. Some of the general symptoms of heart failure include:
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Shortness of breath | |
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If you are short of breath, you may feel like you are not getting enough oxygen when you breathe. You may “huff and puff” even when you are not doing anything strenuous. If fluid has built up in the lungs, it makes breathing harder—especially during exercise. The problem can get worse at night because lying down makes the fluid accumulate in and around the lungs. |
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| Frequent coughing | ||
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You may have a persistent, hacking cough. The problem can also get worse at night because lying down makes fluid accumulate around the lungs, causing feelings of congestion |
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| Increased heart rate, or heart palpitations | ||
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Your heart may feel like it is racing or pounding |
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| Fatigue/weakness | ||
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If you are fatigued, you cannot work and complete tasks as usual because you don’t have the energy. You may not be able to do normal tasks like walking up stairs or carrying shopping bags. |
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| Swollen ankles, legs, belly, and/or lower back | ||
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These are places where fluid may build up and cause swelling. They may appear puffy and larger than normal. Your shoes and/or rings may feel tight. Your clothing may also feel tight around your waist. This swelling is often worse at the end of the day. |
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| Loss of appetite | ||
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If you lose your appetite, you may not want to eat even when you should be hungry or you may feel sick to your stomach. |
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| Weight gain | ||
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If you lose your appetite, you may lose weight. However, weight gain is usually more common. Extra fluid buildup from heart failure shows up on the scale as extra weight—about 2 pounds for each quart of extra fluid. That's why it is important for you to keep track of your weight every day. | |
What is acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF)?
When a congestive heart failure patient’s condition worsens to the point that a visit to the hospital may be required, the patient is described as having experienced acute heart failure or acutely decompensated heart failure. The term decompensated is a medical term used to describe patients whose condition has worsened.
What is heart failure or congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Heart failure is a serious illness in which the heart doesn’t pump blood through your body as well as it should. Your heart still beats, but it pumps less nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. Because of this, heart failure can make you feel tired or weak. Heart failure can also cause swelling and fluid buildup in your legs, feet, and even your lungs. Fluid buildup in your lungs is often referred to as “congestion,” which is why heart failure is sometimes called "congestive heart failure" (CHF).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
NATRECOR® should not be used in patients with certain types of heart failure. NATRECOR® may reduce kidney function in some patients. In clinical studies, more patients receiving NATRECOR® had increases in a common blood measurement called "serum creatinine" than patients who were treated with standard therapy. Increases in serum creatinine often suggest that kidney function has declined. These changes were particularly noticeable at higher doses. For this reason, it is important your doctor uses NATRECOR® at the recommended dose.
In some of the clinical trials more patients who were treated with NATRECOR® died than patients treated with other standard medications. These differences were small and the deaths may or may not have been caused by NATRECOR®. Use of NATRECOR® can lower blood pressure. When NATRECOR® causes a drop in blood pressure it can be a serious side effect requiring treatment. It is important that your doctor only use NATRECOR® in a setting where your blood pressure can be closely monitored.
Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about NATRECOR®'s potential side effects, and other treatment options for heart failure.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click here to see Full Product Information for NATRECOR®.
INDICATION
NATRECOR® (nesiritide) is a drug that is used by doctors, primarily in the hospital setting. NATRECOR® helps patients with heart failure when their condition worsens to the point that they have difficulty breathing when they are not active (like when they are resting in bed) or when they engage in slight physical activity (like brushing their teeth).
